2011-08-02_PR_Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iri S I oi�rev ew iim e ira d as I o ire irs iii fo u iri d y IlDe iir i iiri iii s Ill iii eir i d Ill ii i e iiri@ Ilp iii o iir i e e iir Ilp iii es s ii,c,,: U d a"Ite d" 0 7/2 2/2 0 ��'m 0 7 m'118 A V1 An emerald ash borer infestation has been confirmed in Shoreview, about 10 miles from other known infestations in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Falcon Heights. The invasive insect was discovered in an ash tree in a Shoreview residential neighborhood, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced this morning. A property owner noticed signs of a potential infestation and contacted the city, which then called the agriculture department. Besides the other three cities, an infestation has been confirmed in rural Houston County in southeastern Minnesota. The department said it doesn't know yet how the emerald ash borers reached Shoreview, but will be conducting surveys to figure out the best way to respond to the infestation. Emerald ash borers are one of America's most destructive tree pests. Its larvae kill ash trees by tunneling into the wood and feeding on the tree's nutrients. Since its accidental introduction into North America, they have killed millions of ash trees in 15 states. The metallic-green adult beetles are a half-inch long, and are active from May to September. Infestation signs include one-eighth inch, D-shaped exit holes in ash tree bark and winding tunnels under the bark. Since adult ash borers are poor fliers, the biggest risk for spreading them comes from people unknowingly moving firewood or other ash wood products harboring EAB larvae. That's why officials often respond to EAB detections by issuing quarantine that bars people from moving out of the county any items that may be infested with EAB. The Shoreview detection site is located within Ramsey County, which is already quarantined for EAB due to the St. Paul infestation. Dennis Lien can be reached at 651-228-5588.